Vintage festival to charge for entry as costs rise

A vintage music festival that has been free to attend since it launched more than a decade ago is to become a ticketed event amid rising costs.

Shake & Stir, which takes place in Southbourne, Bournemouth, is a celebration of all things retro, including music, vehicles, dancing and fashion.

The not-for-profit community interest company that runs the event said it lost money last year and new legislation had also added to this year's bill.

Advance tickets for the festival in Fisherman's Walk on 28 and 29 June will cost £7.50 a day or £10 for the weekend.

Stir! Events managing director Mandy Polkey said: "For the last few years we have made sure the money brought in by the traders has almost covered all the costs.

"A lot of money has come out of our own pockets as well - we are just a small independent business - but last year we lost more than we wanted to."

Ms Polkey said the festival also had to comply with Martyn's Law - new legislation introduced in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing, which places more responsibility on event organisers to make sure people are safe.

She said: "It takes longer to write documentation and we have consultants to help us with that, we need more security personnel, so all of the elements have an impact.

"We simply cannot do it for free - it's as simple as that."

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